Make a detailed list of assets and debts

When you have your first appointment with an attorney, be prepared with detailed lists. Don't guess. That wastes your time and theirs, and costs you extra money. It is also important to list debts. Be sure to list the loans from Mom and Dad.

Prepare detailed expenses

The one area that may be argued about the most is the expenses for each spouse. (This may be one of the reasons you are getting divorced in the first place!) Show your actual expenses as you confirm them through check registers and credit card statements. This is to support why your expenses are so high in certain areas.

Accumulate cash

Once you think a divorce is looming, start putting away bits of cash. You may need to hire an attorney and/or other experts and you will need the money to pay them.

Preparing for your divorce

Gather information
Many times one spouse doesn't know what the other spouse is doing - concerning income, expenses, investments, insurance, loan applications, the family business - you get the picture. Gather as much information as possible. Every piece of the puzzle helps put togther the comlete picture.

Get copies of everything
It's amazing how documents seem to disappear once divorce is being discussed. If you have to get these documents later through your attorney, it can be very costly. Get them up front. Copy bank and credit card statements, loan applications, financial reports, check registers, investment reports, - in other words, everything that can have a bearing on your financial situation.

Carol Ann Receives Award

Wow! I have been chosen to receive the Pioneering Award presented by the Association of Divorce Financial Planners (AFDP) in New York City at their Conference in September. What an honor. I will also be their Keynote Speaker.

This award honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of divorce. I founded the profession of Financial Divorce Professionals back in 1993 and have trained many of the Divorce Professionals now working with people going through divorce.

What makes divorce cost so much?

In my 23 years of specializing in this niche, I have found that the biggest reason for high fees for divorcing couples is the following:
They are angry at each other and emotions overrule common sense. So they hide accounts from each other and they don't share important information. It's like they are saying, "I'll show you!" The result is that the attorneys have to subpoena that information. When that happens, the costs growth quickly. The information will come out eventually and in the meantime, the games people play could cost them thousands and thousands of dollars.

And if the couple ends up in trial in front of a Judge, if some information still has not been revealed, the Judge does not like that. Not at all! And this will damage the case of the person who has been uncooperative.

The least expensive divorces overall, have been the ones where the couple approaches it like two adults, just trying to dissolve their marriage in the least painful way possible. They share all information and try to come to an agreement with their attorneys as quickly (and less expensive) as they can. This way, they both end up with more assets in the end.

Real Estate Divorce Specialist

There is a new designation out there to help divorcing couples when they have to sell the family home or one of them needs to buy a new house.

Certified Real Estate Divorce Specialists are trained in the legal and tax aspects of the divorce process as it relates to real estate. They learn obscure legal implications that even many divorce attorneys don't understand.

Divorcing couples are going through one of the most stressful times in their lives and they need all the help they can get. They are looking for a professional who not only empathizes with what they're going through, but who understands the tax and legal implications of dividing real estate in a divorce.

For more information, go to http://www.realestatedivorcespecialist.com/.